Specialty Pharmacy

Close on the heels of Vertex Pharmaceuticals' and Bristol-Myers Squibb's announcement of 4-week sustained viral response (SVR4) results with VX-135 and daclatasvir, Medivir AB and Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc announce SVR4 results with simeprevir, ribavirin, and samatasvir.

The combination of Bristol-Myers Squibb's daclatasvir and Vertex Pharmaceuticals' VX-135 shows early promise as an all-oral ribavirin-free and interferon-free treatment for hepatitis C.

MitoQ, an antioxidant drug under development by Antipodean Pharmaceuticals Inc, may have potential in treating multiple sclerosis in addition to other neurologic diseases.

An immunotoxin code-named 3B3-PE38 may help shut down HIV-infected cells, according to researchers reporting results of a trial in 40 humanized mice.

A testing program that screens for HIV when patients have indicator disease can catch the virus early, but should be coupled with patient education.

Receptos is set to start phase III trials of a sphingosine-1–phosphate-1–receptor modulator codenamed RPC1063. Trial investigators are recruiting participants.

Combination therapy using Bristol-Myers Squibb's daclatasvir and Gilead Sciences Inc's sofosbuvir has attained a sustained viral response 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12) in more than 90% of patients with hepatitis C, regardless of prior treatment.

Immunogenicity is an important consideration for all biologics, not just for biosimilars, noted Steven Lucio, Senior Director, Clinical Solutions and Pharmacy Program Development at Novation.

Investigators strengthened the results of a 2012 trial with a long-term follow-up of an important phase III trial evaluating a bortezomib-based regimen versus a vincristine-based regimen.

Amid conflicting evidence, Swedish researchers have found an association between multiple sclerosis (MS) and alcohol consumption, but the benefits of regular moderate alcohol intake in reducing the risk of MS may be attenuated by smoking.

The latest lung cancer screening recommendations suggest that heavy smokers be screened for the disease annually once they reach 55 years of age.

In an important change to the prescribing information of Xeloda (capecitabine), Hoffman-La Roche, in cooperation with Health Canada, released an advisory on the potential for Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis with use of the oral chemotherapy agent.

Interchangeability designations for biosimilars would make therapy substitutions easier for pharmacists, noted Steven Lucio of Novation, but the FDA has said they will not grant an interchangeability status to a biosimilar upon initial approval.

The controversial chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency theory states that constricted vasculature is part of the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis. A recent trial shows that the theory may be a scientific dead end.

FIT biotech, a Finnish company, expects to begin clinical trials of a vaccine for HIV-infected patients in 2014.

A study analyzing drug approvals and risk evaluation and mitigation strategies (REMS) approvals suggests that most therapies with REMS are indicated for large patient populations and are approved using standard, rather than accelerated, pathways.

Current Topics in Multiple Sclerosis features review articles on the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis.

UCB Pharma submitted a supplement to its new drug application for lacosamide (Vimpat) that would allow it to serve as monotherapy in patients with partial-onset seizures.

Medication adherence was higher among patients who received their medication from a specialty pharmacy than from other dispensing channels.

An update to the Atlas of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) shows a modest increase in the number of patients with MS and the prevalence of MS between 2008 and 2013. The report also highlights disparities in access to treatment between high- and low-income countries.

Pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia showed better response to the flu vaccine if they received it at a certain point during chemotherapy.

Carfilzomib's ability to inhibit myeloma cell growth and ability to trigger a greater response in proteins associated with cell death than other therapies makes it a promising therapy for multiple myeloma patients.

Researchers in the Netherlands found that improvements in diagnostic testing, new treatments, and better management may be responsible for improvements in physical disability, anxiety, and depression ratings over the past 20 years ago in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

A study published by the American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits compares dose escalation patterns of patients treated with TNF blockers.